An Inconvenient Beauty, by Kristi Ann Hunter, is the last installment of the Hawthorne House series. I've been waiting for this title for a long time, because out of all the Hawthorne siblings, I really wanted to know Griffith's story. He is the oldest sibling, and holds the position as the Duke of Riverton. Throughout the series, Griffith has been the responsible one who has been looking after everyone or everything that is under his care, including his mother, siblings, ward, tenants, and holdings. He is also a thoughtful man who thoroughly considers all the possibilities before deciding on what he believes will work out best for everyone involved.
After observing the matches all the members of his family have made, including his former ward (Amelia Pendleton, nee Stalwood, the present Lady Raebourne, whose story is told in Hunter's A Lady of Esteem), Griffith also desires to find a love match for himself. He applies logic to choose his future duchess and decides on Miss Frederica St. Claire. He hopes to gain her hand before the ton's matchmaking mamas realize that he is looking for a wife. Unfortunately for Griffith, trying to find time alone with Miss St. Claire is proving to be a challenge. More often than not, he finds himself in the presence of her cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge, this season's Incomparable. He is attracted to her, but doesn't want to get caught up in the drama of trying to compete with the rest of the throng clamoring for Isabella's attentions. He also is resistant to giving up the choice that he made from his decision making process, to the amusement and chagrin of his relations who know perfectly well that Griffith is a goner where Isabella is concerned.
While Griffith is struggling with his reluctance to set aside his pride in pursuing Isabella, Isabella is struggling with her conscience. She has come to London for the season to aid her uncle's political efforts, in exchange for financial assistance for her family. However, their plans require her to pretend and act in ways that conflict with her spiritual beliefs. By the time Isabella discovers that Griffith is the kind of man that she has always hoped to marry, she realizes that her actions in town will make any genuine romantic relationship between the two of them impossible. Who will Griffith make into his duchess? Will Isabella be able to be true to herself, and help her uncle achieve his political goals so that he is willing to help her family?
I like this novel. I like Griffith. If you are looking for a lot of stolen kisses, you won't find them in An Inconvenient Beauty...Griffith is a nice and respectful man. If it helps to draw you in, there is a secret dance on an upper balcony. In my opinion, Griffith is an attractive alpha male character who displays a satisfying amount of power in being able to solve problems and get things done. This is enough for me to award him a high swoon factor as a romantic hero. He's also self aware enough to realize that he can be arrogant due his station and upbringing, and that he needs to exercise his influence with care, so as to not abuse his position as a duke.
I found Isabella to be okay. She is a pleasant enough character who doesn't let her beauty go to her head. She cares for her family and is willing to sacrifice her reputation and be thought of as a coquette in order to help them.
It was fun reading some of the interactions between Griffith, his siblings, and brothers-in-law. Most of them know him quite well, and tease him over his courtship plans for Miss St. Claire. However, the love that binds them together is good and light hearted. It is nice to read about relatives who get along with each other and who try to help each other out. It was also nice to be able to visit with characters that appeared in earlier novels of the Hawthorne series.
Even though An Inconvenient Beauty is the last of the series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. In fact, I still haven't read Georgina's and Colin's story (An Elegant Façade) yet, although I have read all the other novels. I'm glad that I still have one more story to read about the Hawthorne Family. If you are looking for clean regencies that feature characters who have faith, then you may wish to consider reading books from the Hawthorne series if you haven't looked into them yet.
